View one of these four satirical videos that are designed to educate foreigners about aspects of traditional Japanese culture. Then, write a short reflection (questions are below). This reflection is due Tuesday @ 10 p.m.
1. Chopsticks
2. Apologizing
3. Sushi
4. Origami
Address these questions in your reflection:
- How is this video a satire?
- As a satire, what kind of cultural reform/change might this video be suggesting?
- In what way does this clip portray Japanese culture positively?
21 comments:
In the video on chopsticks, chopsticks and Japanese people were made to look amusing. This video was a satire because although this video appeared to be “informative,” its actual goal seemed to be saying how ridiculous chopsticks are. There was one part where the man was trying to tear apart wooden chopsticks, and he had a whole pile of ones that were torn funny. It made the idea of wooden chopsticks seem foolish because they are so hard to separate nicely. This video also suggests that chopsticks aren’t as effective as a fork and knife. It may be suggesting that since wooden chopsticks seem so impractical, Japanese people should use forks and knives instead. Even though this video pokes fun at the Japanese use of chopsticks, it also shows Japan in a good light. Before it makes fun of chopsticks, the video shows how useful chopsticks are. The thing is, you just don’t remember this after being shown many silly ways to break chopsticks in half.
I watched the video about apologizing. In that video it showed an absurd amount of apologies, each one for a different degree of sympathy. This video is loaded with satire because it's trying to show how silly the different apologies are. The actor who demonstrates the different apologies, also makes funny poses to ridicule it. This video is saying that the Japanese don't really need so many different ways of apologizing, and that a simple "I'm sorry" is good enough rather than getting on your hands and knees begging for mercy.
-Kyle Sugii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjuD52s0GBs&feature=related
The chopstick video that I watched is very satire in my opinion. The way they are describing to foreigners is very ridicule indeed. They show how to split the chopsticks in different ways, how to use it, and etc. Chopsticks, to me is satire because the fact is that it is like a fork and knife makes the chopstick seem very useless to me. Plus you can make many wise cracks about the utensil. Japanese changed the cultural reform by not using forks and knives but totally creating a new utensil for their style. It describes their culture, as a fork and knife would describe the western culture. The clip shows that Japanese take pride in what they have by spreading their culture around. They have video sessions on youtube that show how to split a chopstick in half; the different types of chopstick and how to use it in many different ways.
I watched the one about origami. It is a satire because it makes fun of the Japanese people's tradition of doing origami. It shows origami "masters" competing to make the nicest piece of art. There are two "masters" that are competing; one is super into it and makes really elaborate pieces, and the other one just scrunches up and wrinkles the paper. They both look kind of stupid and pretty ridiculous. It also shows super elaborate pieces that couldn't have been done just by folding paper, but the video claims it was done using only one piece of paper. It says Japanese people usually do origami every day, like they have nothing better to do. In one of the "challenges" the theme was Tour De France, and the guy makes a scene with a road and bicycles on it. Then he someone gets shrunk and stuck into the scene and all the bicycles pass him. This might be a metaphor for how Japanese are inside folding pieces of paper when other countries are doing more active things. The bicycles wizz by the guy's face, and then he looses the origami folding competition. The video is pointing out how if Japan sticks to it's traditional arts, it will be left behind in terms of modernization and moving forward with the world. However, it shows that Japanese people can be artistic, thoughtful, and committed to what they do.
The chopstick video is a satire for many reasons. Firstly, the video gave a comedic warning about keeping your elbows in and not separating chopsticks too wide because you might knock elbows with your neighbor or knock over a vase. Secondly, the video showed examples of more advanced methods of separating chopsticks, including workaholic, gay pride dynamite and sharing the love, all of which were clearly made up simple for the viewers amusement. Lastly, the video showed different ways to hold chopsticks. Regular, masculine grip, mount Fuji and galaxy all were some of the different ways one could hold a chopstick.
I believe that this video is strongly suggesting the use of the fork and knife instead of chopsticks. There were many references to the use of the western utensils in the film as well as the “funny” suggestion that one could use the two sticks that make up chopsticks as a fork and knife.
This video portrays Japanese culture positively by saying that the Japanese tend to have a favorable opinion of foreigners who are very skilled with the usage of chopsticks. It says that Japanese do not hate foreigners. In fact, they feel favorably towards foreigners who know about their unique culture.
rbkJapanese use the Hashi, or chopstick, as their eating utensil. To me this form of eating utensil would be an object that is satire. To Americans, using a chopstick is a strange and difficult way to eat, instead of using a fork and knife, which makes eating a lot practical. This video is showing how eating food in America is a lot different than the way Japanese eat. The video also wants to show how Japanese stay with their traditions. Sometimes Japanese have adopted ideas from other countries, but the Japanese people have stayed with the use of chopsticks. This show shows Japanese culture as a positive because they could simply stop using chopsticks but instead they find using chopsticks as an art. It seems to me that Japanese take pride in what they do.
I decided to do this blog on Origami. This is a form of satire because Japanese paper folding isn't has intense as the movie made it seem. It sort of pokes fun at the Japanese culture by how 'strict' it was to know origami. It also shows how they made it into a challenge called a "Fold-off" which is not true.
It shows Japan in a positive light because it gives a part of the culture that people don't always know about and it also shows how some "old" traditions are still used during modern times.
--Kacie
The Chopsticks video was mainly about how there are many different ways that people use them. It seems like a satire because of the way it implies that chopsticks are not as useful as they seem. For instance, it shows a fork and a knife and how easy it is when using those to eat. And then it shows a man trying to grab the food with chopsticks but not succeeding as well, and he then decides just to poke it. I think that this movie was leaning towards the goal for the people of Japan to learn how to properly use and separate chopsticks. This is because it says how most foreigners automatically think that the people there would be excellent and pros at doing this, but not everyone is. At the end of the film it shows some videos that are supposed to teach you how to properly separate and use them. So i think the change that they want Japan to do based off of this film is just to make sure they know how to do this otherwise you should not use them at all. However this film also represented chopsticks and Japan in a good way by showing the different ways that Chopsticks are used and how unique they are compared to the normal forks and knives that Americans use. It somewhat gives their regards to Japan knowing how hard Chopsticks are to use.
The video about chopsticks is satirical because it sort of ridicules Japanese tradition of using chopsticks with every meal. This video makes fun of the uses of chopsticks and the materials they are made out of. It says it is used for jabbing/pinching and is made of animal bones. The video also teases the Japanese way to split wooden chopsticks (Workaholic, Karate, Gay Pride, and Dynamite) and the ways to hold it (International Style, Masculine Grip, Mount Fuji, Daimyo, etc.).
This video seems to be suggesting that the Japanese should start using other utensils such as knives, spoons and forks instead of only chopsticks.
Even though this video is really satirical, some of the information is correct. Wrong and sarcastic facts about the traditional Japanese use of chopsticks are not the only facts shown. They still show some correct details about using chopsticks. The use of chopsticks to mix food is correct. The correct way to hold chopsticks and the accurate materials chopsticks are made of are also shown.
-patrice
This video about apologies chimes in on the often over-courteous nature of Japan. It plays on the idea that one must apologize sincerely after every little mistake. And by bowing in different ways, you show more or less respect to the nature of the mistake made. This video seems to suggest that there is a very courteous, almost precarious feeling to apologizing to others. By precarious I mean that the person who has been the victim of the act that needs apologizing is very angry at the other’s blunder. This suggests, to me, that Japan is too uptight about courtesy. I don’t me this in the sense that they apologize too much. I mean it in the sense that they need to apologize in this manner because everyone gets pissed off at each other if someone happens to misunderstand or do something wrong. Only by showing a deep respect like bowing perpetually or prostrating yourself in front of the other person will they feel sympathy for you and forgive you for your mistake. There is a flip side to this video and that is that the Japanese are portrayed as very courteous and sincere people. This is obviously not true in all cases but, more so than other cultures, Japan seems to hold a deep respect for all of nature and mankind alike. The fact that they are so courteous makes them appear to be very honest and trustworthy. By having such serious views of mistakes and perfection, you get the idea that they take other’s feelings and views seriously. This is very positive because at least you know if you go to Japan and someone totally messes up then the apology you will receive will be the most sincere and honest apology you will ever get.
The video about chopsticks was funny and made the Japanese people seem very accepting and at ease with a tradition that has been around for so long. The video was a satire because it was informational and poked fun at using chopsticks at the same time. I think the video could be saying that the Japanese are tried of using chopsticks and want to change their utensil of choice. It shows that they are willing to make fun of themselves while teaching foreigners about their customs. The video shows that they are very open to their culture in the way that they can make fun of it.
The video I chose to watch was on chopsticks. This video started off normal with different ways of using the chopsticks. They showed the basic usage of chopsticks such as jabbing, pinching, and cutting of foods. The narrator then proceeded to talk about the material that some chopsticks are made out of. Again, this was normal. Then this is where things got a little satirical. They showed diagrams where you must hold the chopsticks up 3/5 of an inch up and pull with equal forces in all four directions. I thought this was a little overdone and was poking fun at the Japanese culture. Who really goes up 3/5 of an inch and pulls equally? When I use chopsticks, I put no thought into doing it, and I just pull away and hope for the best. They then showed different "techniques," like the "galaxy." There were many other chopsticks glued together on top of the chopsticks being used to create a "replica" of the galaxy. This, I know, was poking way too much at the Japanese because I have never seen anyone in my life using that "technique." Although all of this is poking fun at the Japanese, it is giving chopsticks a good name. It is stated that wooden chopsticks are used in a lot of restaurants, and many people may be interested in trying them now. It gives the Asian culture kudos in something they have made famous, and has become a worldwide phenomenon. Although it appears that this video "how to" was aimed at the cultures other than Japanese, I'm sure the Japanese themselves would find this series of satires to be hilarious as well, my grandmother who is native Okinawan was rolling when I showed her this video. I wonder however, if some people actually took this video without a grain of salt!
The video on how to use a pair of chopsticks is satirical because of the way it 'educates' one on the different ways of use, using humor and stereotypes to make a point.
Far from being negative, this video shows that not only do the Japanese have an appreciation for their culture and the custom of using chopsticks, but that they are comfortable enough to make fun of the more difficult aspects of using chopsticks as utensils. The man who is demonstrating the correct use of chopsticks is continually making funny faces, showing the typical, and in some cases stereotypical, Japanese sense of humour; with exaggerated motions and expressions.
Even though on the surface the video appears to be promoting and encouraging the use of chopsticks, I think it is really making the point that using western utensils is helpful as well. When the narrator says that if using chopsticks with one hand is too difficult, they can be used like a knife and fork, that seems to be an especially good example of satire being used to make a point.
In this case, the point seems to be that both utensils are functional, and some are more suited to certain people than others, because while chopsticks aren't being insulted, neither are western utensils.
-Emily
Once again my internet glitched on me causing my post to send in when I didn't want it to. Boo. Anyways, here's a longer and more detailed re-write. Sorry.
I decided to do this blog post on Origami. This youtube video of Origami is a satire because it makes origami seem like a very important part of the Japanese culture and that every child needs to learn how to fold paper in order to live life successfully. It’s also a satire because they make extreme methods of how origami is used such as “Fold-offs” which aren’t very realistic, although it was extremely amusing and entertaining. This video sort of points out how much Japan has changed throughout the years. Origami isn’t a traditional art form but one that grew over the years, which shows a change in the culture. It shows Japan in a positive light because it gives a part of the culture that people don't always know about and although Origami is somewhat more modern than woodblock printing, they do have the people in traditional Kimonos and whatnot throughout the video. This combination of old culture, the kimonos, and the somewhat newer culture, origami, shows how a culture can combine new with old yet still are successful.
--Kacie
Teh video I watched on chopsticks is a satire on their usage. Its a satire because it shows ridiculous ways to separate and hold the chopsticks. These various ways include the business man, gay pride and making sure to keep your elbows in as to not bump others. For holding the chopsticks they have the galaxy, mt. Fuji and the masculine style. None of these ways to use chopsticks are practical or possible. As a sense of cultural change, the fact that this is an informational video for Americans is suggesting that Japan is trying to get more Americans who cant use chopsticks to learn and come to Japan. They tried to make the informational video funny and a joke because hopefully that would make it more enjoyable. I think that this video reflects the humor and kindness in the Japanese people. As opposed to the Japanese being portrayed as the stereotypical hard worker or the strange weirdly dressed teenager.
Georgia Kelliher
After watching the Origami video the main point was to make fun of the Japanese for their origami folding skills. Satire could be found throughout the whole video and it was always hilarious. In the beginning they would show different pieces of origami and their difficulty levels. It was said that each was made with one piece of paper but this was obviously not true. They also stated facts, one of them being that the Japanese fold origami every day. This is obviously not true. Origami is like painting to Americans; it is done for fun if you enjoy it. The continued on and began to explain about the competitiveness of origami. They said that the men would begin by cleansing themselves with water and then drying themselves thoroughly. It seemed reasonable until they showed the man trying to dry his baldhead with a hair dryer. They had two men at opposite sides of the table with a piece of paper and a man in a robe would give them a topic. One man was very into his folding and would make sound effects, swing his arms and use his mouth to create elaborate pieces of work with his one paper while the other would simply crumple the paper and set it down. The competition was making fun of both men because one guy was too into it and the other thought that a simple crumpled paper would suffice for each topic. In the end the men are given the topic of tour de France and once again the man makes a very simple crushed up paper, but when the other man looks closer there is a very decorative town with bicyclists riding around and he is amazed. Though this movie makes fun of Japanese culture, it tells some truth about origami but overall is just satire.
The video I watched was on origami. It was a satire because it made it seem like origami was a daily practiced artform when it is just a simple hobby to make out of paper. It was completely ridiculous how the video showed origami faceoffs. I thought that was a total spoof off the Japanese origami. As for a culture reform, I think this video shows that origami wasn't practiced in the first few years when Japan was developing. So the origami has become a past-time that people do when felt like it. It shows that the Japanese culture has come a long way and symbolizes that Japan has created its own unique identity. In a positive way, this video makes origame look very complicated but really cool at the same time. It might make others think, "wow, that's so nuts. i want to know how to do that." Like I said before, in a more subtle way, this video also suggest that Japan has threw out the ways of culture borrowing because they have found their own national identity and has its own items and practices that are known to be Japanese. Some of these are chopsticks, sushi,and what this whole reflection has been about, origami.
In the short clip on chopsticks, it was obvious that the video was a satire. Although funny, it did poke fun at how foreigners think that using chopsticks is so hard. It showed the exact measurements of where to pull the chopsticks apart, and then showed a man with a pile of chopsticks that were not pulled apart correctly. As a satire, the video was suggesting how people in other countries should learn how to use chopsticks, sparing the Japanese to watch people struggle with their country's utensils. In the end of the film, it even says to impress the Japanese and know how to use chopsticks before visiting. This clip portrays Japanese culture positively because it shows how the Japanese don’t need to use a knife or fork. It shows how the Japanese were smart to combine it into one. It also shows the different materials used to make chopsticks for sophisticated events and every day use. Overall, the film was trying to portray to foreigners that it would be most appreciated to learn how to use chop sticks before visiting Japan.
The video on chopsticks is a satire because of the way it portrays the Japanese use of them. It basically implies that they are ridiculous and a waste of time. It shows a man attempting to use his chopsticks and failing. It also talks about how hard it is to seperate wooden chopsticks and pokes fun at that challenge. It talks about cultural differences in the comparison of the fork and knife to chopsticks. It basically says that fork and knife are much more practical and easier to use. This is a cultural thing because chopsticks are always used in Japan as we use a fork.
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